Fernando Alonso returns to winning ways by triumphing in debut WEC attempt at Spa

The last time Fernando Alonso emerged on top of an F1 podium was way back in 2013.

On May 12, 2013, by winning the spectacular Spanish Grand Prix, Alonso eclipsed the likes of Kimi Raikkonen, then with Renault and Nico Rosberg of Mercedes. Parking his bloodshot red Ferrari first up at the checkered flag, Alonso prevailed.

A moment of rare triumph

That was the 32nd win for one of F1's most keenly-followed talents. It had been six years since Alonso won anything anywhere, even outside the realm of F1.

Fans accustomed to seeing the Spaniard dominate battles at the front of the grid were pained by Alonso being a back-marker. This felt like a painful ordeal. Critics resorted to Alonso-bashing.

Then all of a sudden, Fernando Alonso silenced everyone on May 5, 2018. Cementing a rare triumph, Alonso took everyone by surprise by landing on the top step of the podium at Spa Francorchamps. In his debut effort at the World Endurance Championship, the sight of Alonso with his arms stretched out, flexed in celebration felt akin to seeing a titan of the sport back to where he belongs

Few sights can match the joy of seeing an Alonso at front.

You wondered, where had he been all this while? The move to McLaren not working from 2015-17 meant that a dominant force in the sport had to resort to DNFs and contend with being a backmarker.

Truth be told, fans at this time are divided in the wake of Alonso's recent success. One the one hand are cynics for whom a motor-racing triumph outside F1 indicates a temporary shift in form and on the other are believers who sense that Alonso is fighting as well as ever.

So what does this tell about Alonso?

Is he back to winning ways?

While the imminent future can tell a great deal about one of F1's most audacious talents- someone who forged his successes competing against greats of the sport- Schumacher and Barrichello earlier on and Vettel and Hamilton to this day- here's what can't be taken away from Alonso.

The same Fernando Alonso who was languishing way behind others last year in a Honda-powered engine (that seemed incapable of competing even in a GP2 race) is currently fighting at P6 in the driver's standings for 2018. He won a lot of hearts recently in securing a fighting finish at Baku where despite suffering from tyre wear early on, El Nino was able to fight for decent points finish.

The shift in fortunes of McLaren driver can be largely attributed to a capable and powerful Renault engine. This has given the Spaniard wings to fight.

However, in the 2017 season, despite being in a weak machine, Alonso was fighting.

It may not have been a drive for victory, but Fernando somehow propelled his 2017 car to a fighting P6 at Hungaroring. In so doing, he also stole the fastest lap of the race. Later at Interlagos, he pressured Hamilton and fought brilliantly with the Briton to secure a hard-fought P9, even as Hamilton in a much stronger Mercedes flew ahead and clinched P4.

What can one expect from Alonso ahead?

Nearing 37, Alonso isn't getting any younger. But his ability to extract the best from the car doesn't leave space for doubting his potential. He is a man who truly savours a wheel-to-wheel battle. We know what difference Alonso can bring with a car that endeavours to aid the McLaren wingman up his fight.

We are seeing signs of a man who seems desperate to triumph against all odds.

With 15 races to go this season and Alonso seeming in good form for taking the fight to the likes of Force India and Renault, there could be fireworks in the pipeline. What increases the prospect of evidencing an Alonso triumph only increases with someone like Zak Brown stating earlier this year that the true potential of the McLaren will be unfurled at the Spanish GP.